Online education is a growing industry in the United States with estimated revenues of $12 billion at a dozen or so for-profit companies that provide primarily online learning.

Here are some facts and statistics:

85% of students who take courses online live in the same region as the campus offering the course.

Of more than 18 million U.S. college students, 3.9 million were enrolled in at least one online college course in fall 2007, an increase of 13% from 2006. Traditional on-campus enrolment increased 1% over that period.

15% of kindergarten through high school students may be educated online by 2011, up from 4% in 2006.

87% of children aged 12 to 17 use the Internet. Two-thirds of nursery school children use computers. Just about every U.S. school is connected to the Internet.

40% of U.S. high schools do not offer any advanced placement courses, many serving low-income, minority students.

44% of U.S. high school students studied a foreign language in 2002 (it is compulsory in EU and elsewhere).

70% of public high school students graduate. Two-thirds of graduates are seen as unprepared for college.

47% of drop-outs said a major reason for leaving school was "classes were not interesting" and they were "bored." 88% of drop-outs had passing grades.

How do you feel about online education? Do you still prefer a human teacher?

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